By Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved a plan to offer free tourist visas to visitors from 35 countries, including China, India, and Russia. This initiative, starting October 1, is part of a six-month pilot program aimed at revitalizing the nation’s tourism sector and aiding its struggling economy.
Tourists will receive 30-day visas under this program, announced by Cabinet spokesman and Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana. The government hopes to transform Sri Lanka into a visa-free destination like Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam to benefit from the booming global tourism industry.
The list of countries benefiting from this initiative includes India, China, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Australia, Denmark, Poland, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Nepal, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, and France.
Sri Lanka, renowned for its beaches, ancient temples, and tea, faced significant setbacks in its tourism industry due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a severe financial crisis in 2022, which led to widespread protests and shortages of essentials like fuel.
However, the sector is showing signs of recovery. By mid-August 2024, Sri Lanka had welcomed nearly 2 million visitors, the highest number since 2019. The country expects to reach 2.3 million arrivals by year-end.
India remains the largest source of tourists, with 246,922 visitors, followed by the UK with 123,992, according to the Sri Lanka Development Authority. The island nation earned $1.5 billion from tourism in the first half of 2024, a significant increase from $875 million in the same period last year, as reported by the central bank.
